Wet Leg – ‘Moisturizer’ album review: Restless wonderment
THE SKINNY: Somewhere in the middle of their perfect storm, between the branches and vines of a debut most saw as a fleeting indie fluke, Wet Leg forgot to get used to their own popularity. The band started out as a joke – they even quip about it on the closing track to Moisturizer – but this is no longer something that dissipates in the blink of an eye. This is artistry rooted in the desire to actually say something real.
That said, this has been clear since the moment they began teasing their follow-up, the cracks showing in the antics of a band that most thought would come back with more of the same, or not come back at all. But back then, the appeal was far simpler, on the surface of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers’ awkward nonchalance like they’d cracked the code to virality, even if it wasn’t to last. Even if it like it was intentionally poking fun at the stoicism that defined the space. Maybe even especially then.
But now, as a reborn five-piece, with Teasdale standing in pride of place as a natural frontwoman and Chambers falling back as the quintessential figure of mystique, there’s a renewed fervour that’s more them than they’ve ever been – literally. Co-written by the pair last year, all efforts around the release of Moisturizer have been about leaning into everything they’d established the first time around with the additional taste of a band ready to put up a fight, unafraid to say the things they’d thought up in the writing process and lay them bare in front of a bigger audience.
Along with the brazen quips of ‘Mangetout’ (“You wanna fuck me? I know most people do”) and playful self-awareness of ‘U And Me At Home’, there’s also a fluidity to the entirety of Moisturizer that ventures beyond the limitations of the debut and everything Wet Leg signalled in their early stages. It introduces a freer atmosphere that isn’t so bothered about what they are anymore, as much as it’s about having fun, in whatever way that may come across to others.
And in the moments of sincere delicacy, like ‘Davina McCall’, or the velvety smooth ‘Pokemon’, it’s like experiencing these emotions on the go, catching glimpses without getting stuck in the weeds of what it all means. There’s a slight restlessness that feels like Wet Leg are constantly moving, or shifting, but not so much that they forget to acknowledge or linger on all the things that make us human. In this instance, there’s no rush to cover it all, but to gaze out like you’re catching all of life’s ambiguities through a train window.
For fans of: Telling snooty sceptics “I told you so”.
A concluding comment from a record store owner: “Finally, something that doesn’t sound like everything else.”
Moisturizer track by track:
Release Date: July 11th | Producer: Dan Carey | Label: Domino
‘CPR’: Starting the record on a note about chaotic romance seems about right, and on ‘CPR’, we’re faced with the question: “Is it love or suicide?” Boasting all of Wet Leg’s best quirks, the song perfectly captures this new, unrestrained version of a band ready to take on the world, even if that’s not exactly what they set out to do. [4/5]
‘Liquidize’: “The fuck am I doing here?”, Teasdale asks on ‘Liquidize’, taking the restless energy of ‘CPR’ somewhere a little more urgent, with a catchy melody that has you caught in its trap in no time. [4/5]
‘Catch These Fists’: Ever the symbol of Wet Leg’s renewed punkish attitude and inspired by a night out post-Chappell Roan, ‘Catch These Fists’ goes out to all women who have ever had their perfect bubble shattered by men who think they have a right to approach them with ulterior motives. “Stupid is, stupid does…” [4/5]
‘Davina McCall’: A tender moment accompanied by an even tender music video, ‘Davina McCall’ tackles the complicated nature of romance with a simple arrangement and melody, showcasing a softer side to Wet Leg that observes love with a casual restraint, even if it feels sharper around the edges. [4/5]
‘Jennifer’s Body’: Taking the band’s earlier tongue-in-cheek simplicity and lathering it up with something rife with pop culture contexts and meticulous theatricality, ‘Jennifer’s Body’ feels like a moment we’re supposed to pay special attention to, even if it takes a few listens to really settle in and make itself known. [3.5/5]
‘Mangetout’: Another standout that feels a lot like Teasdale is baby-voicing her predators and telling them to effectively grow up. ‘Mangetout’ is fun and cathartic, with a catchy melody that gets its hooks in deep. [3.5/5]
‘Pond Song’: There’s a trend that many musicians fall victim to, and it’s the mid-album fatigue. There’s a bit of that here, but it’s not necessarily a fault to do with ‘Pond Song’. On its own, it has all the things you’re after in a new Wet Leg song, but maybe that’s why it lingers a little more in the shadows against the others. [3/5]
‘Pokemon’: “Nothing hits like you and me / I love you, I say casually,” Teasdale sings on ‘Pokemon’, a rhythm punctuating her voice that grips immediately, leading into a sugary-sweet chorus you might not expect on a record with such an overbearing bite. [3.5/5]
‘Pillow Talk’: Reminiscent of earlier tracks like ‘Chaise Longue’, ‘Pillow Talk’ doesn’t hold back, with all the same beats and momentary pauses of the debut hits, with an added edge that takes their inherent satire a step further. [3/5]
‘Don’t Speak’: It’s that quintessential, charming dismissiveness done so demurely that makes ‘Don’t Speak’ great, with another catchy melody you can’t help but feel immediately endeared to. [3.5/5]
’11:21′: Those paying close attention to the latest singles and performances might be confused by a track like ’11:21′ (in a good way). It’s tender and delicate and showcases Teasdale’s vocal ability in a new way we haven’t seen before, leading the record into its closing track with gorgeous wistfulness. [4/5]
‘U and Me at Home’: “Maybe we could start a band / As some kinda joke / Well that didn’t quite go to plan,” Teasdale sings on ‘U And Me At Home’, ending the record on the perfect note of reflection; of everything they have done to transform into a band that’s well and truly here to stay. [3.5/5]
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